Single lock, wrong signage.

Okay...so I forgot...Couldn't believe Ian was up and dressed at 6.45am. I'm chuntering away to myself calling him all the names under the sun for waking me up so early, (especially as I had one or two or maybe 3?? large glasses of the red wine last night when the family was over) and then only to be reminded by him that the clocks had gone forward at 2am! No lie in for me then even if it is Mothering Sunday!
First, we had to wind FS and the place to do so was at Braunston Marina. Then it was a very quick loo emptying jobbie at the facilities before sailing past the moorings at the pub and branching right at Braunston Junction to head for Hillmorton, a good 5-mile cruise away.

Continued right onto the North Oxford toward Hillmorton

 In all that 5 miles only two boats came past and that was as we left Braunston. Would the locks be in our favour? Hillmorton has three paired locks in the flight and it would be great if one was empty and the other full. In this state ascending boats and descending boats would not have to be held up and the question was, would we be so lucky? As we got nearer to the locks we noticed the work had already started on the new housing estate. All that wonderful open countrysides soon to be gone as more and more of the land is turned into a concrete jungle. To see what the development will be click HERE

And the diggers waiting to devour the land!

Top lock came in sight and blast, it wasn't with us. In fact, everyone had to be turned. I did notice this sign on the lock beam though. Now, what is it with C&RT not bothering to put the right information on certain locks. Right signage for double locks but singles???? I'd like to see two boats side by side in these locks!

Both locks empty mores the pity.

As was the middle and last pair.

Glad we travelled on a weekend because we may well have been held up a Clifton. A new access bridge has been built to accommodate all that new housing and signs are present warning of possible delays.

We had hoped to reach Old Oaks Wood but because stopping at Tesco added another 45 minutes to our timings, when a space was seen just before Newbold Tunnel it was a unanimous decision to stop. After all, we had been on the go for 6 hours, a long day for us!

And seen on route just after the Barby straight

Barby straight

And the wildlife,

 I'm almost convinced this was the mother and ducklings seen yesterday although now there are only 9 instead of the 12 yesterday. Three of the ducklings are the same light brown colour. Took this photo about a mile from Braunston.

This was yesterdays.

 There's something endearing about newborn lambs.

Enjoying a stick